Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Images

Explore our planet through photography and imagery, including climate change and water all the way back to the 1800s when the USGS was surveying the country by horse and buggy.

Filter Total Items: 21394
A map illustration of the seafloor off of a coastal area, that shows the features like submarine canyons and depth.
Offshore northern California bathymetric map
Offshore northern California bathymetric map
A cross-section illustration that shows the features of a subduction zone where oceanic and continental plates collide.
Subduction zone schematic
Subduction zone schematic
image related to volcanoes. See description
Water was in Kīlauea caldera before the 2018 summit collapse
Water was in Kīlauea caldera before the 2018 summit collapse
Water was in Kīlauea caldera before the 2018 summit collapse

Black streak on caldera wall (center) is about 50 m (yards) long, and white steam plume (lower right) rises from northwestern part of Halema‘uma‘u. Photo from Volcano House Hotel on July 4, 2018. The configuration of this area changed considerably after the photo was taken, as collapse continued into early August. USGS photo.

Black streak on caldera wall (center) is about 50 m (yards) long, and white steam plume (lower right) rises from northwestern part of Halema‘uma‘u. Photo from Volcano House Hotel on July 4, 2018. The configuration of this area changed considerably after the photo was taken, as collapse continued into early August. USGS photo.

Lake, tree, water vessels, fence
Lake George in the Fall
Lake George in the Fall
Lake George in the Fall

Lake George, New York, in the fall with a dock and watercraft.

Lake George, New York, in the fall with a dock and watercraft.

Small plants grow beneath the needles of a Bishop pine
Bishop pine acting as a plant nursery
Bishop pine acting as a plant nursery
image related to volcanoes. See description
Rainbow over Halema‘uma‘u and the water lake
Rainbow over Halema‘uma‘u and the water lake
Rainbow over Halema‘uma‘u and the water lake

The KWcam webcam at Kīlauea's summit captured a rainbow over the water lake in Halema‘uma‘u this afternoon, as light mist moved across the caldera.

The KWcam webcam at Kīlauea's summit captured a rainbow over the water lake in Halema‘uma‘u this afternoon, as light mist moved across the caldera.

Forester's Tern
Return of the Terns
Return of the Terns
Return of the Terns

Now that Forster’s terns have returned to nesting in Pond A16, an important nesting colony has been re-established, with hopes that this tern colony will grow in future years and help reverse the decline of the Forster’s tern population in San Francisco Bay.

Now that Forster’s terns have returned to nesting in Pond A16, an important nesting colony has been re-established, with hopes that this tern colony will grow in future years and help reverse the decline of the Forster’s tern population in San Francisco Bay.

Aerial view of the northern Outer Banks, North Carolina from post-Hurricane Isaias showing bulldozers clearing the road of sand
Aerial image from post-Hurricane Isaias of North Carolina coast
Aerial image from post-Hurricane Isaias of North Carolina coast
Aerial image from post-Hurricane Isaias of North Carolina coast

The USGS Remote Sensing Coastal Change Project collected aerial imagery of the northern Outer Banks, North Carolina coastline from pre- and post-Hurricane Isaias, in order to use Structure-from-Motion techniques to produce digital elevation models (DEMs) and orthomosaic photos, to be used in evaluating the storm-induced coastal change, such as sand transported onto

The USGS Remote Sensing Coastal Change Project collected aerial imagery of the northern Outer Banks, North Carolina coastline from pre- and post-Hurricane Isaias, in order to use Structure-from-Motion techniques to produce digital elevation models (DEMs) and orthomosaic photos, to be used in evaluating the storm-induced coastal change, such as sand transported onto

Image shows a USGS scientist in safety equipment standing on a bridge measuring floodwaters from Hurricane Isaias
Measuring streamflow on Rock Creek after Hurricane Isaias
Measuring streamflow on Rock Creek after Hurricane Isaias
Measuring streamflow on Rock Creek after Hurricane Isaias

Fisseha Mengistu, USGS hydrologic technician, uses a device that lowers a water sampler into the creek below to collect samples used for water quality testing. Experts will be able to use this data to track how Tropical Storm Isaias impacted water quality in the area. This work was done on Rock Creek in Washington, D.C.

Fisseha Mengistu, USGS hydrologic technician, uses a device that lowers a water sampler into the creek below to collect samples used for water quality testing. Experts will be able to use this data to track how Tropical Storm Isaias impacted water quality in the area. This work was done on Rock Creek in Washington, D.C.

Three researchers in creek sampling with nets surrounded by rocks and mountains
Aquatic insect sampling in Glacier National Park
Aquatic insect sampling in Glacier National Park
Aquatic insect sampling in Glacier National Park

Researchers taking aquatic insect samples in a high-elevation Glacier National Park stream as part of ecohydrological monitoring efforts to study the effects of climate change on aquatic species and ecosystems. 

Researchers taking aquatic insect samples in a high-elevation Glacier National Park stream as part of ecohydrological monitoring efforts to study the effects of climate change on aquatic species and ecosystems. 

Hurricane Isaias coastal change forecast map 8.1.2020
Hurricane Isaias Unlikely to Cause Widespread Atlantic Beach Erosion
Hurricane Isaias Unlikely to Cause Widespread Atlantic Beach Erosion
Hurricane Isaias Unlikely to Cause Widespread Atlantic Beach Erosion

USGS coastal change experts predict that storm waves kicked up by the Category 1 hurricane are likely to cause some erosion at the base of the dunes along about 11 percent of coastal beaches between Florida and Virginia.

This rapid deployment gauge that was installed August 1 in Swansboro, NC to monitor potential flooding caused by Isaias.
RDG installed in NC to monitor potential flooding caused by Isaias
RDG installed in NC to monitor potential flooding caused by Isaias
RDG installed in NC to monitor potential flooding caused by Isaias

This rapid deployment gauge was installed August 1 in Swansboro, North Carolina on the White Oak River to monitor water levels in order track potential flooding caused by Tropical Storm Isaias. Photo by Bryce McClenney, USGS. 

This rapid deployment gauge was installed August 1 in Swansboro, North Carolina on the White Oak River to monitor water levels in order track potential flooding caused by Tropical Storm Isaias. Photo by Bryce McClenney, USGS. 

Thin section image of a lava sample from Yellowstone using a polarizing microscope.
Thin section image of a lava sample from Yellowstone
Thin section image of a lava sample from Yellowstone
Thin section image of a lava sample from Yellowstone

Thin section image of a lava sample from Yellowstone using a polarizing microscope. The mineral assemblage is representative of many of Yellowstone’s basaltic rocks. The three large and colored crystals (known as phenocrysts) in the center of the image are the mineral olivine.

Thin section image of a lava sample from Yellowstone using a polarizing microscope. The mineral assemblage is representative of many of Yellowstone’s basaltic rocks. The three large and colored crystals (known as phenocrysts) in the center of the image are the mineral olivine.

 A USGS storm tide sensor is attached to a bridge and will measure the impacts of Hurricane Isaias.
This USGS storm tide sensor installed for Hurricane Isaias.
This USGS storm tide sensor installed for Hurricane Isaias.
This USGS storm tide sensor installed for Hurricane Isaias.

This USGS storm tide sensor was installed August 1 in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to measure the coastal impacts of Hurricane Isaias. Photo by Joshua Lee, USGS.

image related to volcanoes. See description
Timelapse showing typical activity at Kīlauea's summit water lake
Timelapse showing typical activity at Kīlauea's summit water lake
Timelapse showing typical activity at Kīlauea's summit water lake

This timelapse video at Kīlauea's summit covers approximately 30 minutes and shows the dynamic nature of the water lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater. Steam from the hot water surface is constantly shifting in the winds, while the migrating color boundaries on the water surface appear to show circulation in the lake. USGS video by M. Patrick.

This timelapse video at Kīlauea's summit covers approximately 30 minutes and shows the dynamic nature of the water lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater. Steam from the hot water surface is constantly shifting in the winds, while the migrating color boundaries on the water surface appear to show circulation in the lake. USGS video by M. Patrick.

image related to volcanoes. See description
Kīlauea Volcano's summit water lake is one-year old
Kīlauea Volcano's summit water lake is one-year old
Kīlauea Volcano's summit water lake is one-year old

Plot showing rise of Kīlauea's summit crater lake over the past year, during which laser rangefinder measurements of lake level were made 2–3 times per week. Photos compare the lake on August 27, 2019, when it was ~22 ft (7 m) deep, to July 7, 2020, when it was ~130 ft (40 m) deep. USGS photos.

Plot showing rise of Kīlauea's summit crater lake over the past year, during which laser rangefinder measurements of lake level were made 2–3 times per week. Photos compare the lake on August 27, 2019, when it was ~22 ft (7 m) deep, to July 7, 2020, when it was ~130 ft (40 m) deep. USGS photos.

Was this page helpful?